Testing or inspecting machine



Aug.' 1s, 193e. E, w GLACY 2,051,695

TESTING OR INSPEGTING MACHINE EDWARD w GLACY,

BYl

H/.S nTToRN TESTING OR INSPECTING MACHINE /Fled Dec. 12,'1931 4 Sheets-Sheet '3 INVENroR.' EDWARD w GLACY,

[imm

Aug. 18, 1936.

E. w. GLAcY 2,051,695

TESTING OR INSPECTING MACHINE Filed Dec. l2, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.

INVENTOR: EDM/AA20 w GLACY, BY

Patented Aug. 18, 19736 TESTING .0R INSPECTING MACHINE Edward W. Glacy, Bristol, Conn., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to General Motors Corpol ration, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Deia-- ware Application December 12, 1931, Serial No.` 580,719 25 Claims. (Cl. 20S-111) This invention relates to testing or inspecting machines and comprises all of the features of novelty herein disclosed. An object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for 6 testing or inspecting the quality of a surface such as the smoothness and uniformity of antifriction bearing parts. Another object is to provide an elcient and practicable testing or inspecting machine for rapidly and automaticallyv detecting lo imperfections in the surfaces of a run of similar articles and segregating the acceptable ones. Another object is to provide an improved article supporting and turning mechanism for exposing different areas of an article for treatment. Still l another object is to provide improved mechanism for successively delivering articles toa carrier for inspection and removing them after inspection. Yet another object is to provide Lan improved article inspecting machine wherein a ray g() of radiant energy reflected from the surfaces of the articles controls the segregation of the arifzicles in accordance with the nature of such suraces.

To these ends and also to improve generally g5 upon devices of this character, the invention consists in the various matters hereinafterdescribed and claimed. In its broader aspects, the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific construction selected for illustrative purposes in the :lo accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front view of the machine, some parts being broken away and others being in vertical cross section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view to larger scale than Fig. 1,

3:, some parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view, about on line 3 3 of Fig. 1', some parts being removed.- Y

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view, about 4;) on line 4 4 of Fig. 2, of the article-advancing and segregating mechanism', the turn-table being turned to a different position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view about on line 5 5 of Fig. .4.

45 Fig. 6 uis a diagram.

Work supporting and rotating mechanism. See Figs. 1, 2 and 4 The work W to be inspected, such asia steel paratively fast around a horizontal axis by a pair of grooved rollers 2 and 4 journalled in the arms 5E', of a yoke or carrier 8 and each having a small pulley 8 driven by a belt Ill from a large pulley I2. The rollers turn inthe same direction around their axes which are preferably parallel. The pulley I2 is secured to a bevel gear I4 on a stud shaft'l journalled in a double row ball 5 bearing I8 housed in a recess ofthe yoke or carrier 6. The bevel gear is driven by a bevel pinion secured to a vertical drive shaft 22 journalled in a rotatable sleeve 24 by antifriction bearings 26 and 28. The drive shaft 22 is cou- 10 pled to a shaft 30 having a worm wheel 32 driven by a worm 34 connected to the shaft of an electric motor M.

To rotate the work piece around a vertical axis, the yoke or carrier 6 acts as a turn-table, being I5 mounted on the upper end of the rotating sleeve 24 which is -journ'alled near its upper end in a tapered bushing 40 adjustably carried in the bore of a supporting ring 42. Thev sleeve 24'is also journalled in a bushing 44 carried by a' web 20 46 of the machine frame and carries a gear 48 driven by a pinion 5l) pinned to a vertical counter shaft 52 journalled in antifriction bearings on supporting arms 54 of the frame. A gear 58 pinned to the shaft 52 is driven by a pinion 58 on 25 the shaft 22. The gearing caus'es the rollers 2 and 4 and the work to revolve bodily around a vertical axis at a speedwhich is preferably slow compared to the speed at which the rollers andj the work rotate around a horizontal axis. 30

Work feeding mecmmsm.s'ee Figs. 1,2, 4 and 5 van inclined chute or tube 80. The disc 12 is supported for rotation by a thrust lbearing 82 and is secured to a vertical drive shaft 84 journalled in a bushing 86 and in a double row ball b earing 88 45 'carried by a hollow bracket 90. The lower end of the shaft carries a sprocket wheel 92 driven by asprocket chain 84v from a sprocket wheel 96 on the sleeve 24. 'I'he speed and the number of notches 14 in the disc are so :selected as to in- 50 sure the feed of a ball into the chute at least as often as an inspection operation is performed.

The inclined chute is supported by a bracket 98 carrying'a downwardly open guard or chute extension |00 to direct an article onto a sup- 5g,l

porting plate 02 carried on an extension of a slotted bracket |04 fastened to the frame. The article is temporarily arrested at the end of the chute 80 by a side plate or blade |05 carried on a sliding plunger |06 but, as the plunger advances towards the rollers 2 and 4, the article drops onto a wear plate |08 on the top of the plunger. In the subsequent retraction of the plunger, the article drops onto the supporting plate |02 ready for lateral feeding to the rollers on the next advance of the plunger. Ihe plunger has a depending lug 'carrying a pin I0 engaging the fork of an arm H2 on a rock shaft ||4 supported in brackets ||6 on the ring 42. The ends of the rock shaft carry oppositely directed arms ||8 pivotally connected by rods |20 to the core pieces of solenoids |22 and |24. As will appear from 'the diagram, the solenoids are alternately energized to advance and retract the plunger |06.

The plunger has side lips |28 guided by plates |30 one of which is conveniently formed on the bracket 98, the two plates being secured to the bracket |04 by screws. In addition to the side plate or blade |05, the plunger has an opposing side wall |34, the side plate or blade and the side wall projecting beyond the end of the plunger to form an article recess to retain the article in position for feeding. The projecting ends of the side plate or blade and the side wall carry a pivot pin |36 for a swinging gate or ejector |38 which pushes the inspected article from the rollers 2'and 4 onto an inclined discharge plate |40. At the same time that the gate is ejecting the inspected article, the plunger |06 is advancing another or second article onto -the rollers and the advancing side plate or blade |05 is releasing a third article from the chute 80 onto the wear plate |08. Upon the retraction of the plunger, the gate or eje\tor |38 swings open and drags back over the a icle which is on the rollers, the depression or recess between the two spaced rollers affording the resistance which makes the article stay on the rollers and open the gate.- Also, as the plunger is retracted, the top wear plate |08 is withdrawn to permit the: third article to drop down onto the supporting plate |02 and the side plate or blade |05 then arrests the next or fourth article in the tube 80. It will also be noted that if the plunger is retracted when the revolving yoke or carrier 6 has .placed the rollers in a position other than perpendicular to the plunger, the side walls of the grooves in the' rollers will furnish the resistance to keep the article on the rollers as the gate opens.

Segregation of acceptable articles.-See -Fy 2 and 4 The inclined discharge plate |40 is carried by a bracket |42 having a partition |44 forming .compartments |46 and |48. The iirstcompartment |46 guides the acceptable articles to a discharge chute |50, which may carry them directly to a.

gauging machine, and the second compartment |48 guides the other articles to a discharge chute or shelf |68. The ends of the slide are connected to the core pieces |10 of solenoid: |12 and |14.

Inspection mechanism-See Figs. 1, 2 and 3 The work surface is inspected by a ray of radiant energy reected to a sensitive cell. A hood or dome |80 encloses the work moving mechanism to keep out extraneous light but an electric light |8| in a box |82 and a condensing lens |83 direct a concentrated ray of light through a nozzle |84 to a small area of the ball or other article in a direction other 'than radial so that the ray is reected by the article to a photo-electric cell |86 which provides the eye which controls inspection. The reilected ray becomes considerably enlarged at the cell due to the convex mirror eiectof the ball surface. The cell can be adjusted around its axis to present its window to the light and is held in adjusted position by a clamp |88. 'I'he clamp is also vertically adjustable on a post |89 carried by a plate |90. The plate |90 is slotted for horizontal adjustment on a bracket box |82. The bracket |9| has a vertically slotted supporting leg |93 so that it can be secured in vertically adjusted position on' the frame by clamping bolts. By these adjustments, any desired relation of light rays tol work surfaces can be obtained and the angle between the incident and the reected rays can be adapted to the shape or size of the articles.

Suitable cam operated mercury switches |92, |94 and |96 control the various solenoids. Each switch is carried by a lever V|98 carrying 'a cam roller follower 200 and each lever is pivoted to a bracket 202. Two of the brackets are angularly adjmtable on an arcuate support 204. VEach.

|94 havetheir stops so located that the springs normally hold the switches open but switch |96 is normally held closed.

A cam 2|0 is secured to a revolving cam carrier 2|2 in a position to momentarily operate the switches |92 and |84 successively, the carrier rotating in such a direction that the switch |92 closes and opens-before and opens. A cam 2|4 ferential extent is adiustably secured to the cam carrier at a lower level than cam 2|0 in a posi-` tion to open and hold open the switch |86 during the interval between the operation of the switches |92 and |94. This is to prevent any eiIective action of the sensitive cell the plunger as will appear. The cam carrier is journalled for rotation around the sleeve 24 by a double row ball bearing 2 I6 and carries a gear 2|8 driven by a pinion the countershaft 62.

the pinion 50, in order to insure at least one complete revolution of the carrier 8 during the in-l For a run of larger or` spection of an article. smaller articles, the carrier 8 can be replaced by another in which the rollers 2 and 4 have a diameter, spacing and speed suited to the new work.

|9| which also adjustably carries the,

during actuation of 220 on the upper end of The cam 'carrier is preferably rotated at alittle slower speed than theA sleeve 24, as by making pinion 220 smaller than' the switch |84 closes v of considerable circum- Diagram-See Fia. 6

A power line, such as 110 volt direct current, is controlled by a double-pole switch 280. 'Ihe machine is started by a switch l.'32 which energizes a relay 234 and causes a switch blade 236 to connect contacts at 238. This starts the motor M and lights the lamp |8| which provides the inspecting ray of light coming from the box |62. As a signal to the operator that the machine is not operating, as if the light burns out and breaks the circuit through the relay 234, the switch blade 236 will move to connect the contacts at 242 andlight a red signal lamp 244. The photoelectric cell |86y is very sensitive to light or to a change in the intensity thereof. To increase the flow of current in order to be able to control an inspection, a multi-stage resistance-.coupled amplifying hook-up is employed f similar to that employed in the radio industry. An amplifying tube 246 has the usual lament 248 illuminated, as by a six volt A-battery 250, and controlled by a rheostat at 262. 'I'he tube has the usual grid 254 and the usual plate 256 wired to the'cell terminals. Another amplifying tube 258 has its filament 268 illuminated by l the battery 25D and controlled by the rheostat at 262. This tube has the usual grid 264 and plate 266. The hook-up also comprises a B-battery 268, of say 90 volts,'a C-battery 218, of say 45 volts, and a control switch 212; there is also a D-battery 214, of say 45 volts, controlled by a switch 216'. Suitable resistance units are indicated at 218 and 280, and potentiometers at l282 `and 284 for adjusting the current which is indicated by a' milliammeter A in the circuit leading to a relay coil 286 of a switch blade 288 which is arranged to connect contacts at 280. Condensers are located as indicated at 282 and 284. The contacts at 286 remain unconnected unless there is a change in the intensity of light reaching the photoelectric cell after reflection from the article but any'change in current is amplified so that the relay is actuated. Such change occurs when the reflecting surface is imperfect, otherwise not. Sensitivity can be increased by more amplifiers, by more photoelectric cells or in any other desired manner.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

'I'he cam 2li), moving counterclockwise, momentarily closes the mercury switch |82 and energizes the solenoid |22 to actuate the feed plunger |66 to transfer an article,'such as a steel ball, to the supporting rollers. The preceding and inspected article is-simultaneously ejected. The

cam 2|Il next momentarily closes the mercury switch |84 and energizes the solenoid' |24 to retract the feed plunger. The mercury switch' |84 also momentarily closes a. circuit energizing the solenoid |12 and this moves the deector '|68 to its normal position if it'is not already in such.

normal position. lMeanwhile the cam 2|4 has opened (and has been-holding open) the mercury switch |86 to preventany effective action ofthe 4sensitive cell |66 but, as the cam 2|8 passes and` opens switch |84, cam 2|4 releases and thereby closes switch |86. This makes ready for a completion of a circuit through the solenoid |14 which will be energized provided. the switch relay 2 86 is actuated by the sensitive cell and amplifiers. "I'he ball turns in every direction to present every portion of its area tothe ray of light coming through the nozzle |64 from the light |8|.

If the ball is perfectly spherical and smooth and carries no dust, the intensity of light reected to and perfect ball is ejected from the rollers andgoes into the chute for the acceptable articles. On the other hand, if the ball undergoing inspection is imperfect, the resulting change in -intensity of reflected light affects the cell and,

by means of the amplifiers, the relay 286 is energized and the contacts 286 are connected. This completes a circuit through the closed switch |86 and the solenoid |14, and the deflector |68 is swung over by the slide |66 ready to deect the imperfect ball into the chute V|62 for unacceptable articles. Then whenv the cam 2|0 momentarily closes the' switch |82, the solenoid |22 ad- -vances the plunger and ejects the ball from the rollers to the chute and advances the next ball to the same inspecting position. -The switch |861 is also opened by the cam '2|4. 'I'he defiector, having been swung over by the solenoid |14 to deiiecting position, remains there until the cam 2|6 has closed the second switch |84 to energize the solenoid |12 for returning the deilector to normal position. When switch |84 is closed, the solenoid |24 is also momentarily energized to retract the plunger and thereafter the switch |86 closes to make ready the inspection circuit for the next article. n uniformity in the product. a counter 286 is con. nected up in parallel with the solenoid |12 and registers the total 'number of balls passing through the machine. Another counter 288 connected in parallel with the solenoid |14 registers the number of rejected balls.

Not only does the machine test or inspect the uniformity in smoothness or polish of a surface but, in the case of a ball, it detects any lack of .sphericity because a change in the direction oi' reflected light will affect the photo-electric cell. Rotation of the supporting vrollers presents a zone of the surface Ato the light ray and the slow revolution of the carrierv continually alters the zone so that every portion of the area of -the article is exposed; Raceways and other surfaces may be inspected-if the relation of the surfaces to the impinging ray and the reflected ray be kept constant.

I-claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, an article support comprising a driven roller for supporting and rolling contact with the surface of a round. article to -rotate the latter around an axis, a carrier rotatably supportingthe driven roller, and means for rotating the carrier around an axis which intersects the article; substantially as described. l 2. In apparatus of the character described, an

article support comprising a pair of spaced rollers l As an aid in keeping track of.,

the article, and means for rotating the turntable; f

substantially as described.

3. In apparatus of the character described, an

article support comprising` a driven' roller peturning the article around one axis, a` carrier rotatably supporting the roller, means for rotating the carrier to turn the article around anripherally engaging the surface of an article for inspection f device,

a predetermined relation to said axes; substantially as described.

4. In apparatus of the character described, an article support comprising a pair of rollers peripherally supporting the article for rotation, a carrier rotatably supporting the rollers, a hollow sleeve for turning the carrier, and means extending through the sleeve for rotating at least one of the rollers; substantially as described.

5. In apparatus of the character described, an article support comprising a pair of rollers peripherally supporting the article for` tation on an axis, a carrier rotatably supporting the rollers and itself having an axis of rotation, roller driving means extending through the axis of rotation of the carrier, and means for turning the carrier; substantially as described.

6. In apparatus of the character described, an

rollers for supporting, and rotating anarticlefor. action by the inspectionv device, a combined feedingand electing member for electing an article from the supporting rollers and delivering another article to the same supporting rollers, and means for reciprocating the member; substantially as described.

7. In apparatus of the character described, an inspection device, rollers for supporting and rotating an article for action by the inspection device, a plunger having a gate, and means for actuating the plunger to elect an article from the supporting rollers and to deliver another article to the supporting rollers; substantially as described.

8. In apparatus of the character described, an inspection device. for round articles, rotatable means for supporting such an article for action by the inspection device, a reciprocating plunger movable with respect to the supporting means, mechanism for actuating the plunger to deliver an article onto the supporting means, a gate pivoted to the plunger to eject an inspected article from the supporting means, and the article supporting means having a depression or recess forming a holder arranged to retain the delivered article in position to open the gate; as described.

'9. In apparatus of the character described, an inspection device, means comprising rollers peripherally engaging and turning an article to bring dierent areas into the same relation to the inspection device, a feeding and ejecting device for ejecting an inspected article from the supporting and turning rollers and for delivering another article to the supporting and turning rollers, and means for actuating 'said device; substantially as described.

10. In apparatus of the character described, an inspection device, means for supporting and turning an article around two different axes within the body of the article to bring all portions of the surface into the same relation to the inspecltiondevice, said means comprising a rotary carsubstantially rier and a member rotatable on the carrier, in

combination with means for delivering articles successively to the member: substantially asdescribed.

` 11. Inapparatus of the character described, an

' inspection device, an article support having an up- 'wardlyopen recess to receive an article by gravity, means for turning-the support around ,an axis to present the surface of the article to the inspection device, means for maintaining the center of the article at the same distance from the inspection device, and means for advancingv articles successively onto the turning support at the saine inspecting position and electing them y spected article from the support after comple- .tion of the operation, said last means comprising a controlling cam coaxial with the article support and revolving at slower speed than the work support to insure a full revolution of the article support; substantiallylas described.v y

13. In apparatus of the character-described, an article' support,- means for rotating vthe support with an varticle thereon, mechanism'for inspecting an articleon the support and comprising a device for directinga ray of light tothe article for reflection,- a lightsensitive cell varranged to receive the reflected ray in any position of rotation of the article, and means for adjusting the anglebetween the rays in accordance with the size or contour 'of the article; substantially as described.

14. In apparatus of the character described, an inspection device, and-means for delivering articles successively to inspecting position and comprising a chute for a stream of articles, a plunger movable across the delivery end of the chute, the plunger having an article pushing surface to engage one article and an obstruction to arrest the remaining articles, means for advancing the plunger to deliver the' onearticle to inspecting position and to' remove the obstruction, the plunger alsohaving a supporting surface forthe article released by the obstruction, means for retracting the' plunger to remove the supporting surface and thereby transfer the supported article to a position ready for advance, and an ejector carried by the plunger for removing the inspected article; substantially as described.

15. In mechanism for successively advancing articles to a support for treatment and Vfor ejecting themfrom' the support after treatment, a chute for a stream of articles, a plunger movable across the delivery end of the chute, the plunger having an article pushing surface to engage one article and an obstruction to arrest the remaining articles, means for advancing the plunger to dey liver the one article to'inspecting position and to land means "acting at the definite location for treating the, surface without affecting said rotation of the' article; substantially as described.

17. In apparatus of the character described, an inspection device, a support comprising means for rotating a ball around intersecting diameters simultaneously to bring all points in the spherical surface thereof into the same relation to the in- 70 spection device, and means for causing the said device to control an ejectionof the ball from the support in a path determined by the nature of the surface: substantially as described.

18. In 'an apparatus of the character described, 75

` ing surface on the plunger and extending rear-- wardly from the pushing surface; and means for aesinet an inspection device, a pair of rollersfor supporting and rotating a ball around an axis, and means for gradually shifting said axis without bodily moving the ball to bring all points on the surface of the `ball into the same relation tothe inspection device; substantially as described.

19. In apparatus of the character. described, an inspection device, an article support comprising a pair of rollers and a carrier therefor, means for turning the carrier around an axis which exd tends between the pair of rollers and means movable towards and from said axis, for successively delivering articles to said pair of rollers in anyposition of rotation of the carrier; substantially as described. 4

20. In apparatus of the character described, an inspection device, and means for delivering articles successively to inspecting position and comprising a chute for a stream of articles, a. reciproeating plunger having a pushing surface, an ob structing wall projecting forwardly from the plunger and edgewise into the chute to retain articles in the chute .when the plunger is retracted, a gate having a support on said forwardly projecting wall, and means for advancing the plunger to advance an article and to remove the obstruction; substantially as described.

21. In apparatus of the character described, an inspection device, and means for delivering articles successively to inspecting position and comprising a chute for a stream of articles, a reciproeating plunger having a pushing surface, an obstructing wall projecting lfrom the plunger in advance of its pushing surface to retain articles in the chute when theplunger is retracted, a supportadvancing the plunger to advance an article and to remove the obstruction and thereby admit an article to the supporting surface; substantially as described.

22. In apparatus of the character described, an inspection device, and means for delivering articles successively to inspecting position and comprising a chute for a stream of articles, a plunger ing wall forming one side wall of the recess, al supporting surface on the plunger in rear of the recess, and means for advancing the plunger to remove the obstructing wall from the chute to thereby admit an article onto the supporting surface;-

vexity of the spot magnies the beam at suchy member, and means for rotating the ball'around two different axes simultaneously to bring every spot on the surface thereof into the same inspecting position; substantially as described.

24. In an apparatus of the character described. an inspection device,fa pair of laterally spaced rollers peripherally engaging and supporting an article thereon withthe center of the article in a constant relation to the inspection device, means on the rollers for preventingthe article from l shifting lengthwise thereof, means for continuously rotating at least one of the rollers to turn the article aroundv its center, an ejectorfor expelling the article from the supporting rollers, and means controlled by the inspection device for determining the path of the article upon ejection from the rollers; substantially as described.

25. In an apparatus of the character described, rotating rollers peripherally engaging an article and turning it aroundan internal axis, a carrier for the rollers, means for turning the carrier around an axis intersecting said first axisat the center of the article whereby all portions of the surface of the article are brought to a definite lov cation, and a device acting at saiddeiinite location for inspecting the article; substantially as described.

EDWARD W. GLACY. 

